إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 174
Translations
Indeed, they who conceal what Allāh has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price - those consume not into their bellies except the Fire. And Allāh will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina yaktumuna ma anzala allahu mina al-kitabi wa yashtaruna bihi thamanan qalilan, ulaika ma ya'kuluna fi butunihim illa al-nara wa la yukallimuhum allahu yawma al-qiyamah wa la yuzakkihim wa lahum adhab alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who conceal the divine revelation (particularly the Torah and its descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad) and sell this knowledge for worldly gain, as the early Jewish scholars did. The punishment is severe—their consumption of the forbidden price is likened to consuming fire, and on the Day of Judgment they will face divine silence (no address from Allah), lack of purification, and painful torment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this specifically addresses the Jewish rabbis and scholars who hid the truth about the Prophethood of Muhammad despite finding it in their scriptures.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah during the Prophet's interactions with the People of the Book, particularly the Jewish tribes. It addresses the historical reality that some Jewish scholars deliberately concealed knowledge about the final prophet mentioned in their Torah to preserve their worldly status and influence. The context relates to the broader Medinan period when the Muslim community was establishing itself alongside these groups.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever conceals knowledge which Allah has made it necessary for him to teach, will be bridled with a bridle of fire on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Surah 2:159-160 provides parallel teaching on concealing clear signs with similar warnings and conditional forgiveness for repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that those entrusted with divine knowledge bear a grave responsibility to share it truthfully, and choosing worldly benefit over truth brings severe consequences both in this life and the hereafter. For believers today, it emphasizes the importance of intellectual honesty, opposing scholarly corruption, and prioritizing spiritual truth over material gain.